YOUTH LEADER SERIES

My name is Nelson E. Mbunde (19 years), I’m Tanzanian living in Tanzania, a student who is about to start a bachelor of Science in Information Technology on 8^th November at IFM.  I am also a volunteer in The Jane Goodall Institute (Tanzania).  While spending my time studying I also spend time doing social activities cause I always feel proud when I happen to make a positive change. With this motive inside me later on I happened to meet a Club called Roots&Shoots- “The Jane Goodall Institute clubs” in my High School, Kibasila, since then I have been doing social activities such cleaning some parts of  my town (Dar es Salaam)eg. Beaches, educating students about the environment, planting trees in our environments, participating in national environmental activities and taking care of the school environment as an example to the way our fellow students and youth should do but we where doing this as a Roots&Shoots club not alone. In the club I started as a normal club member but later I was elected to be a club President due to cooperation and hard working, while I was a president its when I came across biodiversity.org through The Jane Goodall Institute in February 2010, it attracted me a lot then I found my way to become a part of it by supporting movement so we can make a change on biodiversity all together as what its happening now. I believe with connections one can perform higher especially in a matter like this. 

PLASTIC, PLASTIC, AND MORE PLASTIC

This image is inspired by a special edition of National Geographic on Oceans.  It shows just some of the many plastic pieces swallowed by an albatross chick found in a remote part of the Pacific. 

THE RAREST SNAKE IN THE WORLD!

 

Photo credit: M. Morton - Durrell

Some great news!  Conservationists have made incredible progress in saving the rarest snake on the planet, the Antiguan racer (scientific name: Alsophis antiguae). The population has dramatically spiked from just 50 individuals in the mid-nineties to over 500 today.

The ten-fold increase is due to the successful partnership of six local and international organizations that make up the Antiguan Racer Conservation Project (Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Fauna & Flora International, The Environment Awareness Group, Black Hills State University, Island Resources Foundation and the Forestry Unit.

Photo credit: John Cancalosi- FFI-ARCP

Learn more at http://www.durrell.org/Latest/News/Worlds-rarest-snake-back-from-the-brink-of-extinction/

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE

As the season of winter in Ottawa, Canada approaches, the morning meadows are white with frost.  Migratory birds and butterflies are anxious to relocate south to warmer climates.  Trees have almost completely lost their leaves.  The one exception is the oaks.  A few strong plants have continued to flower like the creeping bellflower.  Amphibians and reptiles are hard to find now.  The one exception is the common gartersnake.  They love to find a warm corner in direct sunlight.  They can even be encouraged to visit a warm hand and wrap up in your fingers! 

The chickadees continue to embrace the cold.  They actually seem to like the cold.  They are excellent at finding food and can be so amazingly bold in doing so.  If you are alone in the woods here, they will fight for the right to feed from your hand!  Robins are actively feeding from trees laden with berries.  At times they seem drunk from the fruit. 

Insects are becoming rare to the eye.  Water insects continue to be active under thin sheets of ice.  A few short-horned grasshoppers jump out of the vegetation as the heat of the day builds up.  It is really a very peaceful time of year to connect with nature.  Mike L.

YOUTH ACCORD SIGNATURES TO DATE

1. Argentina- 3
2. Australia- 17

3. Austria- 3

4. Bahamas- 2
5. Bangladesh- 1

6. Barbados- 2

7. Belize- 2
8. Belgium- 3

9. Bermuda- 2

10. Bolivia- 1

11. Botswana- 1

12. Brazil- 11
13. Bulgaria- 8
14. Canada- 1146
15. Cameroon- 3

16. Cayman Islands- 1
17. China- 20

18. Columbia- 2

19. Cuba- 1

20. Cyprus- 1

21. Denmark- 1

22. Dominican Republic- 1

23. Egypt- 2
24. England/ UK- 14
25. "Europe"- 4

26. Republic of the Fiji Islands- 1

27. France- 3
28. Germany- 11

29. Greece- 1

30. Guyana- 1

31. Honduras- 2

32. Hungary- 4

33. India- 15
34. Indonesia- 15
35. Ireland- 2

36. Israel- 2

37. Italy- 5

38. Iraq- 1
39. Japan- 30

40. Jamaica- 1

41. Kenya- 4

42. Korea- 2

43. Lebanon- 5

44. Macau-1

45. Malaysia- 2
46. Malawi- 1
47. Mexico- 2667

48. Mongolia- 2
49. Namibia- 1
50. Nepal- 3

51. Netherlands- 1

52. New Zealand- 3
53. Nigeria- 5
54. Panama- 2
55. Pakistan- 1

56. Paraguay- 1

57. Peru- 1

58. Philippians- 2

59. Portugal- 4

60. Rwanda- 1

61. Senegal- 2

62. Serbia- 3

63. Singapore- 1

64. Slovakia- 2
65. South Africa- 4

66. Spain- 88

67. Sudan- 1

68. Sri Lanka-2

69. St. Lucia- 1

70. Sweden- 2

71. Switzerland- 1
72. Taiwan- 4
73. Tanzania- 75

74. Thailand- 1

75. Tunisia- 1
76. Uganda- 54

77. Ukraine- 1
78. United Arab Emirates- 3
79. United States- 103

80. Vietnam- 3

81. Venezuela- 1

82. Zambia- 1

83. Zimbabwe- 1
NAMES WITH NO COUNTRY/ REGION LISTED- 73
(Duplicates not counted here)

GRAND TOTAL: 4664 signatures (includes hard copies from Spain, Canada, Mexico, Tanzania, and Japan)

Arctic Biodiversity Symposium at Cdn Museum of Nature, Nov 18 / Symposium sur la biodiversité arctique au Musée canadien de la nature, le 18 novembre

Join leading scientists and experts for a symposium on the fast-changing state of Arctic biodiversity. This meeting will advance our current understanding of the Arctic, highlight critical knowledge emerging from research during International Polar Year, and identify the most pressing issues for future research.

Maurice Strong, eminent environmentalist, will present the keynote address, as Honorary Chair.

For information, list of speakers and registration: nature.ca/symposium
613-566-4795  

  

Joignez-vous à des scientifiques et experts éminents pour un symposium sur l’évolution rapide de la biodiversité arctique. Cette rencontre fera avancer notre compréhension de l’Arctique, mettra en évidence les connaissances essentielles issues de la recherche menée au cours de l’Année polaire internationale et identifiera les problèmes les plus pressants en vue des prochaines recherches.

Maurice Strong, éminent écologiste, prononcera l’allocution d’ouverture à titre de président honoraire.

Renseignements, liste des conférenciers et inscription : nature.ca/symposium
613-566-4795

NAGOYA, JAPAN: COP 10 CONFERENCE HAS CONCLUDED

The delegates to the COP10 biodiversity conference concluded agreements early Saturday on access to genetic resources, preserving biodiversity over the next decade, and strategies to mobilize financial resources to meet these goals.  

Convention on Biological Diversity President Ahmed Djoghlaf expressed his commitment to establishing a focal point for youth in the CBD to better engage them in the process.  This is the direct result of the hard work and lobbying by international youth.  These students are now working toward COP 11, slated for 2012 in India.

Youth had many opportunities to participate in the COP 10 activities.  The organization POWER from Canada worked with several groups, giving them an opportunity to present during their side event.  Thank you POWER for your help with this.